What is a "motion to strike"?

A "motion to strike" specifically refers to a legal request made in court to eliminate certain parts of the evidence or pleadings in a case that are deemed improper, irrelevant, or prejudicial. This type of motion is often filed to ensure that only appropriate and permissible evidence is considered by the court, thereby protecting the integrity of the judicial process and preventing unfair disadvantage to either party involved.

The focus of a motion to strike is on the content presented in the pleadings or evidence; by striking certain elements, the court can streamline the case and address only the pertinent issues. This helps to clarify the matters that are truly at stake and avoids confusion that might arise from extraneous or inappropriate information.

Other options refer to different proceedings within the legal system. For instance, a request for a case to be reviewed involves appeals and higher court proceedings, a change of venue pertains to the relocation of a trial to a different jurisdiction, and a motion to dismiss relates to ending a case before it reaches a determination on the merits. However, none of these options pertain to the specific and procedural nature of eliminating evidence or pleadings from a case, which is the essence of a motion to strike.